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“I’ve really enjoyed it my time here – but it’s probably been a little bit too up and down,” he said. “For me personally I think my standards probably haven’t been as high as when I first came in.

“But I’m doing exactly the same kind of work on the training pitch and I’m trying to become the best I could possibly be. We all want to be in the Premier League and that’s me and Stoke City Football Club.”

He added: “I’m an honest person and for me I haven’t been playing as well as I was or I can be. That’s no reflection on how hard I’m working because I’d like to think no one can fault me for my work rate.

“It’s just one of those things. That’s football for you and it’s frustrating at times! I’m looking to put it right and I thought I did ok against Villa last Saturday.

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“I’m very particular and I want to be good all the time. Sometimes it doesn’t happen and the frustration is just who I am.

“You can ask my girlfriend what I’m like when I go home and I haven’t done well. It does bother you and it’s about making sure you go into training and put it right. I just want to be as good as I can be and there’s always improvement there, especially over recent weeks.”

Stoke City's Joe Allen (right) celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game with team-mate Tom Ince (left)

Woods has been picked in a midfield anchor role in a 4-3-3 favoured by Rowett this season. In recent weeks that has meant sitting behind lung-busting duo Joe Allen and Sam Clucas.

The 25-year-old is happy to stay deep and disciplined and let his teammates take the headlines.

He said: “Goals aren’t really in my game but if I sit back I think it gives Sam and Joe the freedom to go forward. Sam’s got three or four assists in his first few games and Joe has been scoring too and arriving late into the box.

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“They know I’m always going to be there as a protector and that’s my job in the team. It’s how we work together that’s important.

“I’m sure I’ll get on the scoresheet at some stage but it doesn’t happen very often. It’s happened once or twice in my career and hopefully I can find one again this year – but if I don’t, hopefully it’s because I’ve been doing a job for the team.”

Ryan Woods led out Stoke City as captain in Ryan Shawcross's absence. (Image: Steve Bould)

There is no doubt Stoke’s form has picked up markedly since Woods made his full debut at Sheffield Wednesday.

They had picked up one win and lost three of their first six games of the season without him (0.83 points per game) and have only lost two of the 16 with him… even if he would be happier if they had won more than six.

As he prepares to make the move permanent in the New Year, he already has a pick of highlights – and hopes that one is a glimpse of what is yet to come.

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He said: “Personally the biggest highlight so far was being given the armband when Ryan (Shawcross) wasn’t in the team.

“As a squad it was probably the Derby game. That showed an unbelievable amount of what we’re about as a group. We wouldn’t have seen that game out if it wasn’t for the togetherness we had in the dressing room.

“We put it all on the line for each other and showed the fans what we’re actually about.”